Chifley

An assessment of population growth drivers in Chifley reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Chifley's population is 2,785 as of May 2026. This is an increase from the 2,680 reported in the 2021 Census, reflecting a growth of 105 people (3.9%). The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 2,785 in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the census date. This results in a population density of 1,751 persons per square kilometer, above the national average according to AreaSearch assessments. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 122 persons to 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group by 31 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Chifley according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Chifley has seen approximately 14 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 71 homes were approved, with a further 3 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, there have been 1.7 new residents per dwelling constructed annually.

However, recent data shows an increase to 4.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing popularity and potential undersupply. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $272,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chifley has significantly less development activity, with a figure that is 67.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

The current building activity shows a mix of 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, providing options across different price points. Chifley's population density, with around 365 people per dwelling approval, indicates a developed market. With stable or declining population projections, Chifley is expected to experience reduced housing demand pressures in the future, potentially benefiting potential buyers.

Chifley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip), and Woden Community Services Hub. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Chifley has been broadly consistent with national averages

Chifley has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year. This is 0.1% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) unemployment rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Chifley was 68.0%, slightly below ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.9% of residents worked from home. The key industries for employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services.

However, education & training is under-represented with only 7.3% of Chifley's workforce compared to ACT's 9.6%. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 0.8% while the labour force grew by 1.1%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chifley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Chifley SA2's income level is among the highest in Australia, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Chifley SA2 is $68,180, while the average income stands at $82,735. These figures compare with those of the Australian Capital Territory, which has a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Chifley SA2 would be approximately $75,298 (median) and $91,373 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Chifley SA2 all rank highly nationally, between the 85th and 90th percentiles. The income distribution data shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.8% of residents (857 people), mirroring the region where 34.3% occupy this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners in Chifley SA2 (38.1% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout the area. Housing accounts for 14.5% of income, and strong earnings rank residents within the 86th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Chifley displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Chifley, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 67.7% houses and 32.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chifley stood at 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.2% and rented dwellings at 32.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure. Nationally, Chifley's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chifley features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.2% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 4.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Chifley exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Chifley's educational attainment is notably high, with 52.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region average of 46.8%. The area's highest qualification is bachelor degrees at 29.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.5%) and graduate diplomas (6.2%). Vocational pathways account for 22.9% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates 12.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.1% in primary education, 7.9% in tertiary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Chifley has ten active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by nine different routes, offering a total of 750 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is considered good, with an average distance of 223 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 82% of residents, while buses account for 8% and walking for 5%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 107 trips per day, equating to roughly 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Chifley is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Chifley demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population, nearing the nation's average across older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover is exceptionally high in Chifley, with approximately 61% of the total population (1,693 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.6% and 7.6% of residents respectively. A total of 70.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents in Chifley are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (456 people), higher than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors in Chifley are above average, though they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

Chifley was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chifley's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed high cultural diversity with 30.9% born overseas and 26.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 40.0%. Hinduism was notably higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%, making up 8.1% of Chifley's population.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.6%), Australian (20.8%), and Other (14.3%). Spanish, Serbian, and Croatian ethnicities showed notable overrepresentation compared to regional averages: Spanish at 0.8%, Serbian at 0.7%, and Croatian at 0.9%.

Chifley's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Chifley's median age is nearly 36 years, closely matching the Australian Capital Territory average of approximately 35 years but somewhat younger than Australia's median age of around 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chifley has a higher proportion of residents aged between 35 and 44 years (17.2%), but fewer residents aged between 5 and 14 years (9.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the current period, the proportion of residents aged between 35 and 44 has increased from 15.2% to 17.2%, while the proportion of residents aged 85 years or above has risen from 2.0% to 3.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged between 45 and 54 years has decreased from 12.3% to 10.2%, and the proportion of residents aged between 75 and 84 years has dropped from 6.5% to 5.3%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic shifts in Chifley, with the strongest projected growth occurring among residents aged between 65 and 74 years (a 15% increase, adding 33 residents to reach a total of 252). Residents aged 65 years or above are expected to drive approximately 81% of population growth, reinforcing trends towards an aging demographic. Conversely, population declines are projected for the cohorts aged between 0 and 4 years and between 15 and 24 years.